A Dragon Tale: Cosmic Dragon Puts The 'Super' In Lemon Haze

?This week I visited the Cosmic Dragon Collective, the first shop in the past month without "Green" in its name. It's located in the Greenwood neighborhood, though, so I guess they still get to be part of my month-long lead-up to St. Patrick's Day, albeit on a technicality.

?This week I visited the Cosmic Dragon Collective, the first shop in the past month without "Green" in its name. It's located in the Greenwood neighborhood, though, so I guess they still get to be part of my month-long lead-up to St. Patrick's Day, albeit on a technicality.

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After a quick and painless verification process, I was escorted to the bud room, and immediately noticed the glass display case held only nine strains of cannabis flowers and two kinds of hash (Master Kush and Pineapple Express).

What it did have, however, was good, and reasonably priced: Eight of the strains are available for a donation of $10 a gram, with only one strain, Super Lemon Haze, at $12. Of course, since it was the most expensive weed in the place, I wasn't about to leave without it. And since it was a sativa, I varied my selections by also picking a hybrid, Burmese Kush, and an indica-dominant, Sweet Tooth.

It didn't take long to figure out that the Lemon Haze deserves to be called "Super." This potent Haze/Skunk hybrid--a back-to-back winner at Amsterdam's Cannabis Cup in 2008 and 2009--has a subtly citrusy taste and smell. Its flowers are denser than your average sativa, and its effects, which include a soaring head high, also have more of a body component than most of its ilk. This is no doubt due to the Skunk (indica) portion of its genetic heritage.

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

BuKus of euphoria: Burmese Kush's fat, tight nugs are lushly resinous

?Speaking of skunks, the Burmese Kush (affectionately known as "BuKu") was quite skunky-smelling--in a good way, of course. The fat, tight nugs are lushly resinous and have the unique pine flavor shared by the entire Kush family. This strain gives an almost instantaneous rush of euphoria, followed by pain relief and stress reduction, but the effects fade more quickly than those of your average high-octane indica.

True to its name but unlike most indicas, Sweet Tooth has a distinctly sweet taste, along with the uplifting mental effects prized by patients with depression and PTSD. There's lots of lung expansion, so approach it with caution until you get a feel for just how much you can take. Sweet Tooth's fat, fuzzy, lime-green buds have a complex mix of terpenes contributing to its orchestra of flavors and smells, with occasional hints of melon and blueberries. Its thick coat of trichomes makes Sweet Tooth popular among hash-makers.

Cosmic Dragon also has a respectable selection of smoking pipes. Be aware that if you donate a few dollars for medicine, the price can come down. For instance, I left with a nice glass water pipe (we're not supposed to call them bongs anymore), marked $40, for just $30.

Cosmic Dragon Collective is at 315 N.W. 85th St., Suite B, 420-8364, cosmicdragon206@gmail.com. It's open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from high noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Steve Elliott edits Toke of the Town, Village Voice Media's site of cannabis news, views, rumor, and humor.